Blair could face leadership challenge

Prime Minister Tony Blair could face a challenge to his leadership if he takes Britain to war against Iraq without United Nations authority, veteran Labour MP Tam Dalyell claimed.

Mr Dalyell, Father of the House of Commons and a long-standing critic of Mr Blair's stance, forecast moves would be made to call a special party conference to challenge Mr Blair's authority.

But Labour chairman John Reid dismissed talk of such a move, saying it was the work of a few "usual suspects" and would be heavily defeated by the party's National Executive Committee.

Mr Dalyell, MP for Linlithgow, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "As soon as it becomes clear that the UN is disregarded, yes, certainly a letter will go out to our colleagues asking for a special conference of the Labour Party.

"I don't think it is possible to exaggerate the degree of concern about the illegality of what is proposed.

"We can certainly ask for it (a conference) ... there are many constituency Labour parties who, like the Linlithgow constituency party, will put forward a resolution that if there is no UN mandate and if there is not a vote in the Commons before the commitment of British troops, then we ask the Prime Minister to consider his position as leader of the party."

There was even speculation at Westminster that such a letter had already been drafted ready to be circulated among anti-war MPs.

Although there is little prospect of such a challenge ever materialising, the speculation underlines just how close Mr Blair is to splitting his party over his support for military action against Saddam Hussein's regime.

Former Culture Secretary Chris Smith, who recently led 121 Labour backbenchers in a rebellion against the Government's stance, said talk of a leadership challenge to Mr Blair was unwelcome.

But he predicted a further Parliamentary rebellion and ministerial resignations if Mr Blair ordered British forces into action without the blessing of the UN.